Transport

Creating cleaner, safer, smarter and more resilient transport systems

The UK transport sector is under growing pressure to decarbonise, improve safety, increase resilience and deliver better outcomes for passengers and freight. But complexity, risk and market barriers can slow the adoption of new technologies and innovation at scale.

We help transport organisations and high-potential businesses overcome barriers to innovation by validating emerging technologies in real-world and highly regulated infrastructure environments, accelerating the deployment of proven solutions across the transport sector.

By connecting industry, innovators, investors and government, we help scale proven transport solutions that improve performance, productivity and long-term sustainability across the UK transport system.

delivered using active airports and rail stations for trialling new solutions.

trials delivered in 2025- 2026 alone.

raised in private investment by supported SMEs since 2019.

in actualised cost-savings for HS2 as a result from our accelerators.

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Our services

Connected Places Catapult is a proven delivery partner for transport operators, infrastructure owners, government and high-potential SMEs.

We help identify, test and scale solutions that improve transport performance, sustainability and operational resilience.

Our services for transport industry organisations and SMEs include:

Our focus areas

Photo of Sameer Savani

We have an imperative to transform the transport sector – creating systems that are more sustainable, reliable, safe and accessible to all. At Connected Places Catapult, we collaborate with the entire transport ecosystem to catalyse change.

Sameer Savani, Transport & Construction Managing Director,

Connected Places Catapult

Scaling SME growth

We work directly with high potential transport businesses in the UK to support growth and commercialisation through our projects and programmes, which aim to:

  • Help SMEs turn potential into performance
  • Reduce risk so individual businesses can scale
  • Support SMEs to compete in real markets
Keeping people safe in transport hubs using AI
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Keeping people safe in transport hubs using AI

Createc will be demonstrating its crowd monitoring technology that helps keep people safe in train stations and airports at InnoTrans in Germany, alongside Connected Places Catapult.
Meet the innovator using AI to improve the school run
Article

Meet the innovator using AI to improve the school run

Moria Bennett is growing a tech business whose AI platform is helping to make the school run safer, greener and smarter.

Recent projects

An airport runway at sunset with several airplanes parked and one being towed by a ground vehicle.
Project

Zero Emission Airports (ZEA)

Decarbonising airport operations and developing the infrastructure to support zero-emission flight

Live open calls

A port scene shows cargo ships, trucks, and stacked containers. An airplane is flying overhead against a sunset sky, with city skyscrapers visible in the background.
Opportunity

TRIG 2026 competition – Cohort 19

Up to £2,385,000 in funding is available across 53 projects to develop feasibility studies, proofs of concept, or prototypes tested in laboratory or relevant real-world environments.
Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2026 – Cohort 5
Opportunity

Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2026 – Cohort 5

The Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator will support up to 12 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to develop a trial to test their solution in real-world environments to help solve pressing challenges within the freight sector.
An aerial view of a docked ship in a port
Opportunity

The Ideas Elevator – Maritime Decarbonisation

This pilot programme is for disruptive, very early-stage and exciting ideas and concepts that may alter the future landscape of clean maritime and have the potential to lead to radical change. It is open to SMEs and academics.

Have you got an innovative pilot, project or solution?

Case studies

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Case Study

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Connected Places Catapult has collaborated with government, industry and academia on various projects to position the UK at the forefront of the Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) revolution.
Improving connectivity in rural communities
Case Study

Improving connectivity in rural communities

Connected Place Catapult delivered the Rural Transport Accelerator from November 2023 to March 2025 with nearly £2 million funding from the Department for Transport.
Reducing slips, trips and falls with AI Technology at Bristol Temple Meads
Case Study

Reducing slips, trips and falls with AI Technology at Bristol Temple Meads

Bristol Temple Meads (BTM) station sought innovative solutions to enhance passenger safety, particularly targeting slips, trips and falls associated with passengers carrying large items on the stairs within the station subway.

Interested in collaborating with us to de-risk new technologies and solutions, and implement innovation at scale?

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Latest news

Eleven innovators secure further ncat funding to advance accessible transport solutions
News

Eleven innovators secure further ncat funding to advance accessible transport solutions

Eleven innovators have secured a share of more than £1 million to develop and test solutions that remove barriers across the UK’s transport system.
Freight Innovation Fund welcomes latest cohort of innovative businesses
News

Freight Innovation Fund welcomes latest cohort of innovative businesses

Automated port systems and aerodynamic lorry designs feature among the latest companies selected for the accelerator programme.
New support for transport and construction innovators to scale their business
News

New support for transport and construction innovators to scale their business

A new programme of tailored support will help UK SMEs with proven solutions to commercialise at scale.

We work closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) to drive innovation and deliver transformative projects across the UK transport sector. Our partnership enables us to support cutting-edge research, develop new technologies, and create solutions that address the most pressing challenges in transport today.

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Transport Research and Innovation Grants

The Department for Transport (DfT), in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, offers Transport Research and…